MoTow

I got a foldable keyboard today that I bought new off ebay. I can't get it to work. I have an X5 WM03. I tried installing the drivers for an X5 and X3 off the dell site and the disk I was given to no luck. It sees the keyboard icon in programs and I hear a tone when I plug it in but nothing happens when I press a button. Please Help!!!!!:realmad::realmad::realmad:

zacksba

You should list the make/model of the keyboard as there are various vendors out there that make different versions of the foldable keyboard (ie dell, belkin, think outside, targus, palm etc). Someone should be able to help you.

Also, try using the search feature with the name of the keyboard. Chances are someone else has had that issue.

MoTow

I have a dell model g7l0-001

uzziah0

I have a Dell keyboard, not sure which one though as it is at home.
I had it working great with ppc2002, but since I got ppc2003 installed, I have had problems getting it to work consistently.
I think it worked with very little else installed after the hard reset.
I did a few hard resets to figure out what was causing the conflict.
I thought it was the BT drivers (I have a BT CF card), but I don't remember if that was the final thought.
I was thinking of trying to get this working again, but I don't want to do another hard reset.
I would try disabling all the plug-ins, and turn off anything else that is running.
After that, it is tinkering.

My problem was from opening the app that turns on the keyboard, when I selected the enable box, it would automatically unclick the box, as if it didn't recognize the existence of the keyboard.

uzziah0

OK.
I got some incentive to try my keyboard again.
Got it out last night, and it didn't work.
So, I got my smallest screwdriver and took it apart at the connector where the Axim sits (mine has a connector that physically connects to the Axim at the same place it connects in the dock).
I just opened it up there, since I didn't want to mess around with the folding mechanisim of the keyboard itself.
When I got it open, I found two wires disconnected.
I should have suspected this from the start, since the connector folds down when you fold the keyboard.
I unscrewed the connector and it's attached circuit board, and unplugged the wires on one end and it came out easily.
At work I resoldered the two wires and all the other, since they were shakey looking too.
One of the hardware guys told me about loc-tite, which is glue like stuff that you put over the solder point and onto the wire to help it stay in place. Hopefully this will keep the wires in place at the ends and not break.
I'll let you know if this fixes things and perhaps even add a couple of pictures tonight.

uzziah0

I tried out the solder job, and my keyboard still doesn't work.
I did find a problem with the installed files.

I am having problems with the drivers, all the files are not being installed to the correct directories, here is the cut from the registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Apps\Dell Foldable Keyboard(US) V2.07]
"Instl"=dword:00000001
"IsvFile"="\\Windows\\AppMgr\\Dell Foldable Keyboard(US) V2.07.DLL"
"CmdFile"="\\Windows\\AppMgr\\Dell Foldable Keyboard(US) V2.07.DAT"
"CabFile"="\\Windows\\AppMgr\\Install\\Dell Foldable Keyboard(US) V2.07.CAB"
"InstlDirCnt"=dword:00000000
"InstallDir"="\\Windows"
"InstlDir"="\\Windows"



I am missing the DAT and CAB file from the install, as listed above.

So, if someone can contact me with these files, I would REALLY appreciate having these files sent.
Since the registry is set, and the DLL file is loaded with the install, I think I can get this working with these two missing files.

Please send me a PM.

peter_n

uzziah0,

I looked for the three files you mentioned, unfortunately I think it's the same situation as yours. The .dll is there, the .dat and .cab are not. Have you considered that the keyboard is bad? Can you test the keyboard on another Axim? Sorry if you have already thought of this.

Another thought, you mentioned something about opening an app that turns on the keyboard? I don't recall having to open an app, all I did was install the driver and the keyboard was good to go.

MoTow

I still haven't been able to make mine work.

uzziah0

Originally Posted by peter_n

uzziah0, I looked for the three files you mentioned, unfortunately I think it's the same situation as yours. The .dll is there, the .dat and .cab are not. Have you considered that the keyboard is bad? Can you test the keyboard on another Axim? Sorry if you have already thought of this. Another thought, you mentioned something about opening an app that turns on the keyboard? I don't recall having to open an app, all I did was install the driver and the keyboard was good to go.

I think I fixed the keyboard (wires to the connector broke, but I resoldered them), but I'm not sure, as I cannot get the driver to load properly.
The registry lists files that are not installed to my Axim.
So, I'm thinking if I got those files I could get this thing working.


I did try to install the drivers from a different computer (at work) and I am still missing the CAB and DAT files from the install.

peter_n

Originally Posted by MoTow

I still haven't been able to make mine work.

MoTow, did you try to install R67221.EXE (downloadable from Dell's support page)? Any errors installing the driver? The easiest way to test the keyboard is to press the Windows logo key and see if the start menu pulls down.

I don't know what else to suggest if this doesn't work.

peter_n

Originally Posted by uzziah0

I think I fixed the keyboard (wires to the connector broke, but I resoldered them), but I'm not sure, as I cannot get the driver to load properly. The registry lists files that are not installed to my Axim. So, I'm thinking if I got those files I could get this thing working. I did try to install the drivers from a different computer (at work) and I am still missing the CAB and DAT files from the install.

I cannot comprehend what those registry listings mean, but like I said my Axim does not have the .dat and .cab files on it, yet my keyboard works. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Chuck

just some old notes on my belkin ir foldable keybord. I have my wifi card in and put the ax on the holder upside down. (floresent lighting overloads the reciever) one way to test the ir keyboard is with a webcam ---you can see the ir light up. just the same way as a tv remote control. I use my ax as a small computer monitor just point at html. and let it refresh. beside the big one.
just sits there plugged in year after year after year. I need to do somthing with it.

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uzziah0

Originally Posted by peter_n

I cannot comprehend what those registry listings mean, but like I said my Axim does not have the .dat and .cab files on it, yet my keyboard works. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Thanks for checking on those files, I was thinking their being missing was the problem; perhaps they are just there for the install and are removed afterwards.

Do you have to enable your keyboard before using it?
You mentioned to MoTow to just click the Windows key (to activate the Start pull down).
Back when mine worked I had to go to the Keyboard icon (in Programs) and click the box to enable. Now all it does it show the check mark in that box for a split second, and it goes away.
I did try to use the keyboard with a different application and it still would not work.

I'm thinking I either need to reimage my Axim (hard reset and re-install everything) or take it apart and check the connector inside the Axim. (but it does make a connection noise when I connect it to the keyboard)

peter_n

Originally Posted by uzziah0

Do you have to enable your keyboard before using it? You mentioned to MoTow to just click the Windows key (to activate the Start pull down). Back when mine worked I had to go to the Keyboard icon (in Programs) and click the box to enable. Now all it does it show the check mark in that box for a split second, and it goes away. I did try to use the keyboard with a different application and it still would not work. I'm thinking I either need to reimage my Axim (hard reset and re-install everything) or take it apart and check the connector inside the Axim. (but it does make a connection noise when I connect it to the keyboard)

I do not need to enable the keyboard. I didn't even notice the foldable keyboard icon until you mentioned it. I connect the Ax to the keyboard, it makes the connection sound, works right away. Since I was curious, I went to the Foldable Keyboard icon, and the Enabled Keyboard was already checked. When I disconnected the keyboard, the check mark disappears.

uzziah0

Originally Posted by peter_n

I do not need to enable the keyboard. I didn't even notice the foldable keyboard icon until you mentioned it. I connect the Ax to the keyboard, it makes the connection sound, works right away. Since I was curious, I went to the Foldable Keyboard icon, and the Enabled Keyboard was already checked. When I disconnected the keyboard, the check mark disappears.

Hmmm.
When mine worked, I would have to check that box otherwise it would not work.

Now I just can't check the box and have it remain checked.

Thanks for the info.